John Gibson saving grace for Ducks during push for playoffs

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Anaheim Ducks’ goaltender John Gibson watches as the puck as he flies across his crease as Josh Manson defends against the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin during the second period of their NHL hockey game at Honda Center in Anaheim on Tuesday, Mar. 6, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)

CALGARY, Alberta – Nearly six minutes had elapsed in the third period when Calgary’s Dougie Hamilton moved into a prime scoring area and got a pass from teammate Mark Giordano to unleash a one-time shot that had plenty of heat on it.

Hamilton took plenty of shots at the net – 13 in all. Five were on target. On this one, John Gibson read where the pass was going and where the Flames defenseman was stationed. The athletic save was the best of his 29 stops made Wednesday night.

There was also a second-period chance that Hamilton had, in which he pinched in unguarded down the right side. Back on Jan. 6, Hamilton did the same thing and beat a surprised Gibson and the Ducks with 16 seconds left.

Not this time. Gibson again read Hamilton’s intentions and moved to his left, keeping his arms to his sides and his leg pads closed and tight. With his body square and in perfect position, he simply let the defender’s shot hit him. No acrobatics were needed.

It is Gibson’s capacity to make both types of saves that marked the Ducks’ 4-0 victory, his 16th career shutout. It has been his ability to balance impressive athleticism with improved positioning that has taken his game forward, and toward becoming one of the NHL’s top netminders.

Since the end of January, Gibson has taken his game to places it may not have been. His last 16 games have been a particularly stellar sample size – a 12-3-1 record, 1.73 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. In three of the wins, opponents were kept off the scoreboard completely.

Within the locker room, the Ducks are seeing something different in their talented goalie.

“I think he’s on another level right now in terms of his preparation,” winger Andrew Cogliano said. “In terms of how he’s managing himself in the net. He looks pretty confident. I think he’s a big reason why our penalty kill is where it is. He’s a big reason why we’re not giving up a ton of goals against over the last little bit.

“At the end of the day, he’s distancing himself as one of the better goalies in the league, for sure.”

Some are beginning to raise the argument that the level he’s at is worthy of Vezina Trophy consideration. At the very least, Gibson is working his way into the discussion. His next victory will give him 30 wins for the first time. The numbers beyond that strengthen his case.

Gibson’s overall .926 save percentage ties him for fourth in the NHL among goalies with 30 games played. His goals-against is down to 2.41, putting him eighth. He is also in the top 10 in total saves. A .917 save percentage against the opposition’s power play is tied for first – a big reason the Ducks have a top-five penalty kill.

The superlatives don’t do much for Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who was typically blunt when assessing Gibson’s role over the second half of the season as his team pushes for the playoffs.

“Your goalie is paid to stop the puck,” Carlyle said, using a common refrain. “He shouldn’t let any in. That’s the theory the coach is always going to. It’s unrealistic to look at it that way. And we know how strong Gibson has been.”

Getting a gruff coach to dish out compliments might be another challenge for Gibson but the goalie isn’t keen on breaking down his game or what sort of level it holds. There is simply a job to do. Keep the puck out of the net. By any means necessary.

“At this point of the year, there’s not much room for error,” Gibson said Thursday before the Ducks left for Winnipeg, where they will play the Jets on Friday night. “You got to hold yourself accountable and make sure that you try to be close to your best or at your best every night. That’s just what I’m trying to do.”
Ducks goaltender John Gibson has a 12-3-1 record, 1.73 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in a torrid stretch over his past 16 games. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)

To further realize his immense potential, Gibson met with Ducks goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj in Pittsburgh over the summer and the two not only worked at refining the netminder’s technique but discussed how he could put himself among the elite in his profession.

The takeaway was the need to play “a more closed game” Maharaj said. And his pupil, with whom he’s worked since the two were in the American Hockey League with the Norfolk Admirals, deserves credit for heeding that philosophy.

“The biggest area for me – and I’ve mentioned this before – is that his willingness to buy in and utilizing that athletic ability of his at the correct moments, and staying within his structure more than he had in the past,” Maharaj said. “That structure was always there but he would let that athleticism sometimes override that.

“Now you can see that he’s really trying to stay within the structure. And when he needs to pull out that athleticism – case in point that one-timer (by Hamilton) for example – you see that he still has that ability. He’s utilizing it in a more select manner.”

Maharaj said Gibson is to the point where he is making difficult saves look easier than they really are. He is thrilled that the goalie is reaping the rewards for the work he put into making himself better. And he feels Gibson is deserving of the recent Vezina chatter.

“That’s all gravy,” Maharaj said. “But right now a Stanley Cup win would override everything.”

Gibson, who’s one to prefer talking about the team, downplayed his role in the adjustments he has made.

“It’s just like anybody,” Gibson said. “Whatever position you are, the more you play in this league and everything like that, I think you just feel more comfortable. I think that’s just how it is. Obviously you work on things here and there.

“But I think with just playing games and having another year under my belt, that just helps with success and helps you personally, confidence-wise. It just makes you feel more comfortable.”

ICE CHIPS

Defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) did not practice and may miss his second straight game after getting injured Sunday against New Jersey. … Cogliano and Ryan Kesler also were not part of the workout as they took the day off for maintenance.

With the win over Calgary, Carlyle became the 32nd coach to record 1,000 points behind the bench. Asked when he will reflect on that milestone, he quipped, “Maybe when I’m older. Or much older.”

Eric Stephens has been covering the Ducks and the NHL for news outlets since 2005 and for the Orange County Register since 2009. Now happily spreading the hockey gospel throughout the Southern California News Group. Has covered three Stanley Cup Finals and (sadly) one NHL lockout. Once took up an invitation to a fan's tailgate barbecue at the College World Series. Has all sorts of genres on his iPod and tries his best in whatever he does most of the time. Only the grits at Waffle House come close to his. Eternal goal: Be better.